Month: January 2014

On Saturday at Winter Warm-Up, the Cardinals unveiled the inaugural class and gave details on the Cardinals Hall of Fame, which will be located in Ballpark Village. All of the details and some nice photos are in the press release below, but I’d like to know – what players, managers, etc., would you like to see in the Cardinals Hall of Fame that are not listed in the inaugural roster below? Please use the comment section to tell me your choices. As for me, you can read my choices for the Cardinals Hall of Fame here. Here’s the scoop on the Cardinals Hall of Fame:

Cardinals Establish Hall of Fame & Detail Induction Process

Cardinals Greats To Be Immortalized in Hall of Fame Gallery Presented by Edward Jones

“Red Ribbon” Panel of Baseball Experts to Annually Select Veteran Player & Ballot of Modern Players for Fans to Elect Two

ST. LOUIS –January 18, 2014 – The St. Louis Cardinals announced details about the team’s new Hall of Fame that will be established this spring with the dedication of their new museum within Cardinals Nation in Ballpark Village. The new Cardinals Hall of Fame will honor the greatest players and other important figures in Cardinals history.

“We are very excited to be able to recognize the exceptional careers and significant achievements of some of the greatest names in Cardinals history,” said Bill DeWitt Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the St. Louis Cardinals. “Induction into the Cardinals Hall of Fame will be one of the highest honors the team can bestow.”

Each member of the Cardinals Hall of Fame (#CardsHOF) will be permanently enshrined in the new Cardinals Hall of Fame Gallery presented by Edward Jones that will be located on the second floor of Cardinals Nation just outside the entrance to the Cardinals new museum. The gallery is free and open to the public to encourage fans of all generations to visit and celebrate the storied 122-year history of one of baseball’s most iconic teams. The plaques that adorn the gallery are being produced by Matthews International, the company that also produces the plaques for the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

“Just like Cooperstown, the Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum will be a special place that baseball fans from all over will want to visit,” said Brad Iversen, principal and chief marketing officer at Edward Jones. “Edward Jones is honored to sponsor the Hall of Fame and the annual induction process that gives fans a voice in honoring the team’s greatest players.”

The Cardinals announced the details of the annual induction process that will include the creation of a “Red Ribbon” committee of Cardinals baseball experts, a six-week fan balloting process in the spring and an induction weekend each summer highlighted by a formal enshrinement ceremony. The initial induction class will be enshrined in the Cardinals Hall of Fame on Saturday, August 16th with the formal selection process to begin shortly.

The team announced the twenty-two individuals who will comprise the Inaugural Class of the Cardinals Hall of Fame. These members will be automatically enshrined when the team dedicates Cardinals Nation and the new museum this spring. Members of the inaugural class will include Cardinals figures who have been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, primarily as members of the Cardinals organization, or those who have had their number retired by the team.

“We felt strongly that those who had been inducted into Cooperstown and who already had their number retired by the Cardinals should be part of the Cardinals Hall of Fame on day one,” said Bill DeWitt III, President of the Cardinals. “We didn’t think it made sense with this list of greats to go through a lengthy formal induction process.”

The Cardinals Hall of Fame will honor the players and individuals who have had the greatest impact on the success of the franchise. Members must be voted in based on the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame Election Rules. To be eligible, players must have played for the Cardinals for at least three seasons and must be retired from Major League Baseball for at least three years. The eligible pool of players will be divided into two categories, Modern Players and Veteran Players. If a player retired more than 40 years prior to the induction year, he is classified as a veteran player.

Annually, the Cardinals will convene a “Red Ribbon” committee of Cardinals baseball experts to select a veteran player to be inducted that year and they will nominate a ballot of six to ten players that will be presented to fans. The ballot will be posted on cardinals.com where fans will have the opportunity to vote for a period of six weeks. The two players with the most votes after on-line balloting will be inducted. In addition, independent of the traditional ballot process, from time to time the Cardinals organization may opt to induct an individual who was an important figure in Cardinals history such as a coach, broadcaster or member of the front office. The induction class will be announced in mid-April.

The new 8,000 square foot state-of-the art St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum on the second floor of Cardinals Nation in Ballpark Village will celebrate the rich history of baseball in St. Louis and the legacy of one of baseball’s most storied franchises. The Cardinals’ museum collection is the largest team-held collection in baseball and is second only to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in terms of size with over 16,000 memorabilia items and hundreds of thousands of archival photographs. Fans can learn more about the museum at cardinals.com/museum.

Cardinals Nation (#CardsNation)

The first phase of Ballpark Village will be anchored by a first-of-its-kind 34,000 square foot venue on four levels called Cardinals Nation. Cardinals Nation is comprised of four key elements: a two-story restaurant and bar, an 8,000 square foot world-class Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum, a Cardinals Authentics retail store featuring game used memorabilia on the first floor, and a 330-seat roof top deck with spectacular game views and an all-inclusive experience unlike anything in baseball today. The Cardinals Nation restaurant will feature a high-energy, memorabilia-infused space designed by the internationally acclaimed Jeffrey Beers International. There will be three separate patios, two large bars, and unparalleled sports viewing with large flat screen TVs and other multimedia features. Cardinals Nation will set a new standard for sports-inspired restaurants. The Cardinals Nation rooftop seating deck will feature ticketed seats looking into Busch Stadium and will include amenities such as all-inclusive food and beverage, a complimentary ticket to the Cardinals museum, Busch Stadium audio/visual feeds, and access to other areas within Ballpark Village. Cardinals Nation will be the official headquarters for Cardinals fans who want to stay connected to the team year-round.

Ballpark Village (#BallparkVillage)

The construction of Ballpark Village represents the next step in the Cardinals’ vision for their investment in downtown St. Louis that began with the opening of the privately financed, $411 million Busch Stadium in 2006. Ballpark Village is a mixed-use retail, entertainment, office, and residential district being developed in partnership by the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cordish Companies. Spanning seven city blocks on the 10-acre site just north of Busch Stadium, Ballpark Village will be the first master-planned mixed-use development designed to complement the excitement and energy of the Major League Baseball game day experience to a new neighborhood outside the stadium walls. For more information about Ballpark Village, go to cardinals.com/bpv or www.stlballparkvillage.com.

Cardinals fans have been waiting for this weekend all winter and it’s finally here – Winter Warm-Up, the Cardinals Caravan and the St. Louis Baseball Writers’ annual dinner. This weekend will provide our Cardinals fix until spring training starts in less than a month. There’s a lot going on this weekend, and just like you can’t tell the players without a scorecard, you need a schedule to keep track of all the activities. All the details you need are below.

18th ANNUAL WINTER WARM-UP TO KICK OFF 2014 SEASON

Details on How Fans Can Enjoy the Holiday Weekend Highlighted by Autographs, the Cardinals Caravan and BBWAA Dinner

Winter Warm-Up – the largest fundraising effort for the team’s charitable fund, Cardinals Care – returns to the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch Saturday, January 18th through Monday, January 20th (Martin Luther King Jr. Day) with appearances by a variety of current and former Cardinals players. In addition to familiar favorites, fans will have their first opportunity to greet offseason acquisitions Peter Bourjos, Mark Ellis, Jhonny Peralta and Randal Grichuk.

“We love bringing together our players and fans as we work to raise money for kids in the Cardinals community,” said Michael Hall, Vice-President of Community Relations and Executive Director of Cardinals Care. “Winter Warm-Up is always a lot of fun for the fans, but it’s also fun for us because we know that the fans are helping us make a real difference throughout Cardinal Nation.”

The Cardinals Caravan departed Busch Stadium on Friday morning and is making 19 stops in four states along five routes before returning to St. Louis Monday night. For complete information on all caravan stops, visit cardinals.com/caravan.

The 56th annual Baseball Writers Dinner takes place at the Renaissance Grand Hotel on Sunday night. Fans will enjoy a night of fun and entertainment as the dinner celebrates the 2013 National League Champion Cardinals and commemorates the 50th anniversary of the 1964 World Championship with members of both teams. The evening will be highlighted by special guests like soon-to-be Hall of Fame Manager Tony La Russa, retiring pitching great Chris Carpenter and the presentation of the St. Louis Baseball Man of the Year, the Rookie of the Year and the winner of the Darryl Kile Award.

Below are complete highlights of the 2014 Winter Warm-Up:

Friday, January 17, 2014

Will Call: The Will Call ticket window at the Hyatt Regency will be open from noon to 7 p.m.

“Dugout” Presentations: “Challenges of Playing the role of a General Manager” with Lee Thomas at 11 a.m.; “Collecting Sports Memorabilia” with collector Dave Jackson at 1 p.m.; and “Concussions in Baseball,” a discussion with Cardinals’ team physician Dr. Wendell Becton at 3 p.m.

“Clubhouse” Presentations: Old time baseball talk with former Cardinal Ted Savage at 10 a.m.; Meet the members of Team Fredbird at noon; “Hall of Fame Gamers: the Jerseys of Cardinals HOFers in the Team’s Collection” presentation by Brian Finch of the Cardinals’ Hall of Fame and Museum at 2 p.m.; and a discussion about Cardinals’ Marketing with Dan Farrell, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, at 3 p.m.

Main Stage: Throughout the day, the Main Stage will feature a number of auctions, presentations and live emceed interviews. Scheduled events are KMOV’s Claire Kellet and Andre Hepkins from 9 to 11 a.m.; “Cardinals Baseball” with General Manager John Mozeliak from 11 a.m. to noon; Cardinals alum and broadcaster Al Hrabosky from noon-2 p.m.; Cardinals alum and broadcaster Rick Horton from 1 to 3 p.m.; and Cardinals broadcaster Dan McLaughlin from 3 to 5 p.m.

Silent Auctions: 9 a.m. – noon and 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Live Auctions (Main Stage): 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Fans must be present to win an auction item, and all items must be paid for and picked up at the close of each auction.

Will Call: The Will Call ticket window will be open from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Bank of America Building. From noon to 5 p.m., Will Call will relocate back to the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch.

Cardinals Caravan: The Cardinals Caravan makes its way through Cardinal Nation with stops in Joplin, Rolla, Hannibal, Columbia, and Moberly, Mo. as well as Quincy, Ill.

Dugout Presentations: “2013 Player Development Review” by Gary LaRocque, Director of Player Development, at 10 a.m.; “Collecting Sports Memorabilia” with collector Dave Jackson at 11 a.m.; and “Concussions in Baseball,” a discussion with Cardinals’ team physician Dr. Wendell Becton at 3 p.m.

Clubhouse Presentations: “Cardinals Baseball Photography: Year in Review” with team photographer Scott Rovak at 10 a.m.; Meet the members of Team Fredbird at noon; see 2013 additions to the Cardinals Hall of Fame Museum Collection with Brian Finch of the Cardinals’ Hall of Fame and Museum at 1 p.m.; and “The Cardinals Draft Process” from Director of Scouting, Dan Kantrovitz, at 2 p.m.

Main Stage: Throughout the day, the Main Stage will feature a number of auctions, presentations and live emceed interviews. Scheduled events are Cardinals alum and broadcaster Mike Shannon from 10 a.m. to noon; Cardinals broadcaster Mike Claiborne from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Cardinals broadcaster John Rooney from 1 to 3 p.m.; and KMOV’s Maurice Drummond from 3 to 5 p.m.

Silent Auctions: 9 a.m. – noon and 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Live Auctions (Main Stage): 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Fans must be present to win an auction item, and all items must be paid for and picked up at the close of each auction.

Will Call: The Will Call ticket window will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch.

Cardinals Caravan: The Cardinals Caravan makes its way through Cardinal Nation with stops in Dyersburg and Memphis, Tenn., as well as Mattoon and Peoria, Ill.

56th Annual Baseball Writers Dinner (Renaissance Grand Hotel, 6:30 p.m.): This year’s dinner celebrates and honors the 2013 National League Champion Cardinals and commemorates the 50th anniversary of the 1964 World Championship with members of both teams. The evening will be highlighted by special guests like soon-to-be Hall of Fame Manager Tony La Russa and the presentation of the St. Louis Baseball Man of the Year, the Rookie of the Year and the winner of the Darryl Kile Award.

Dugout Presentations: Learn about the stadium P.A. job from announcer John Ulett at 10 a.m.; bring your camera and take a picture with America’s symbol, the bald eagle at 11 a.m.; and “Collecting Sports Memorabilia” with collector Dave Jackson at 1 p.m.

Clubhouse Presentations: Cardinals President Bill DeWitt III discusses Ballpark Village at 10 a.m.; learn the history of the Cardinals in 10 items on display from the Cardinals Museum with Brian Finch of the Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum at 11 a.m.; Meet the members of Team Fredbird at noon; and “Cardinals Baseball Photography: Year in Review” with team photographer Scott Rovak at 1 p.m.

Main Stage: Throughout the day, the Main Stage will feature a number of auctions, presentations and live emceed interviews. Scheduled events are KMOV’s Mike Colombo from 9 to 11 a.m.; and former Cardinals broadcaster Jay Randolph from noon to 2 p.m.

Silent Auctions: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. and noon – 2 p.m.

Live Auctions (Main Stage): 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Fans must be present to win an auction item, and all items must be paid for and picked up at the close of each auction.

Will Call: The Will Call ticket window will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch.

Second Floor: On the second floor of the Hyatt, fans will find collectible memorabilia, baseball cards and more from more than 50 vendors, meet Fredbird and listen to informative presentations by Cardinals executives, and watch the kids enjoy carnival games and inflatables.

Cardinals Care Store: Open throughout the weekend, the Cardinals Care Store is stocked full of Cardinals memorabilia such as discounted baseball caps, team-issued apparel, t-shirts, game-worn jerseys, toys, grab bags, books, autographed photos and bats, lapel pins and more. Fans can even purchase photos for collecting player autographs and baseball cases for your new autographed collectibles. Also, any fan that purchased an autograph ticket for a pre-signed baseball from Ozzie Smith may redeem their ticket at the Cardinals Care Store to receive their autographed item.

Trophy Photos: Fans will be able to take their photo with the 2006 and 2011 World Series trophies, as well as with Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright’s 2013 Gold Glove Awards. The trophies will be located in the Park View room on the 4th floor.

Cardinals Publications: Fans are encouraged to visit the Cardinals Publications table during Winter Warm-Up and take advantage of several show specials. Fans who purchase a subscription to Cardinals Magazine for just $35 will receive a FREE ticket voucher to a 2014 home game AND gain automatic entry into a drawing to win a game-worn retro 1982 jersey from the 30th anniversary World Series celebration vs. Milwaukee. In addition, special pricing will be available on the 2014 Cardinals Official Calendar, and a limited quantity of 2013 Cardinals Yearbooks will be on sale. Also check out the extensive collection of past issues of Cardinals Magazine, yearbooks and media guides for sale–all perfect for autographs at the show. Even better, customers who spend at least $25 at the table will receive automatic entry into the same drawing for autographed magazines. Also stay tuned for special announcements via Twitter (@Cardinals) throughout the three-day event. The Cardinals Magazine booth is located outside the Main Stage ballroom near the Silent Auction table.

Authentics and Personalized Bats: Cardinals Authentics – the only official source of memorabilia directly from the team – will be selling unique game-used, limited-edition and autographed collectibles at their booth. Fans can also buy a personalized Louisville Slugger baseball bat. Each bat, which comes in two sizes, can feature up to three lines of custom text and two logos, including the exclusive 2014 Winter Warm-Up logo and new 2013 NL Champions logo. 30% of all personalized bat sales will benefit Cardinals Care.

Busch Stadium Tours: Guided tours of Busch Stadium will be offered during the 2014 Winter Warm-Up each day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every 20 minutes. These tours will be offered at the regular tour prices, but include a stop inside the Cardinals Clubhouse. It’s the only time each year the Cardinals’ locker room is open to tours. For ticket prices, or to purchase tickets, visit cardinals.com/tours. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Cardinals Care.

Cardinals Care Raffle: Throughout the weekend, Cardinals fans can purchase raffle tickets for $5 for a chance to win a pair of 2014 Season tickets valued at over $3,500. The drawing takes place on the Main Stage between 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Monday, January 20. Need not be present to win. For $1, fans can also purchase Cardinals scratch-off tickets for the chance to win a Michael Wacha autograph. Both the raffle and scratch-off tickets can be purchased from roaming volunteers or at the Admissions and Autograph Tickets Sales table on Level 2 of the Hyatt.

Green Team: The team’s “4 A Greener Game” initiative will have a booth where fans can find out more about the Cardinals Green Team – a group of volunteers who collect recyclables from fans throughout each game at Busch Stadium. In exchange for volunteering, fans are able to watch the game in standing room only sections of Busch Stadium.

Ballpark Village: Fans will want to stop by the Ballpark Village booth to learn more about the new $100 million development opening in the spring of 2014. Promising to be the top Entertainment District in the region, the state of the art construction on a six acre site includes: five live performance stages, a retractable roof, rooftop seating to watch the Cardinals, an outdoor festival area and the biggest indoor TV screen in the Midwest – perfect for the Cardinal fan going to the stadium, sports viewing, terrific national and local dining, exciting nightlife and exceptional private parties! The booth at Winter Warm-Up will include the latest renderings and a Ballpark Village executive to answer questions. Anyone who stops by the booth and signs up for the newsletter will receive a Ballpark Village rally towel.

Social Media

Throughout the Cardinals Caravan and Winter Warm-Up, fans can stay connected by following the Cardinals on Twitter(@Cardinals), Facebook (Facebook.com/Cardinals) and Instagram (@Cardinals) for the latest news, event updates and behind-the-scenes content. Each day, the team will have contests for both fans at the event and at home, Twitter Interviews with players, exclusive videos, photos and more. Fans should join the conversation, and share their own photos and experiences by using the hashtags #WWU, #CardsCaravan, and #CardsCare. New this year, the Cardinals will utilize the St. Louis-based app Bonfyre. The experienced-based social platform will narrowcast the 3 day event to fans and offer exclusive, behind-the-scenes content, scheduling updates, special prizes, and allow fans to share content while automatically creating a digital memory of the experience. Fan can join the official Winter Warm-Up bonfyre by downloading the free Bonfyre app in the App Store or Play Store, logging in via phone, email, or Facebook account, then clicking the search icon in the upper right corner and type in “Winter Warm-Up.” Fans many also click this link to join from a mobile device.

Traffic

This weekend, The Missouri Department of Transportation has closed all lanes of I-70 downtown between Pine Street and the Poplar Street Bridge. While MoDOT doesn’t anticipate that the closure will directly impact Warm-Up attendees, motorists are encouraged to use I-64, I-55 or I-44 to get into and out of downtown during the I-70 closure. If fans take I-70, they can still take the Pine exit to Market.

Tickets

Admission Passes: Although online ticket sales have ended, fans can still purchase three-day passes for the event at the Busch Stadium Team Store, area Cardinals Clubhouse Stores, or at the event’s Autograph and Admission Sales Table on Floor 2. Ticket prices are $40 for fans 16 and older, $10 for fans ages five to 15, and free for kids under five. Members of the military, police and fire departments with an active ID will receive one free adult pass while supplies remain. Military admission passes may be obtained in person at Winter Warm-Up.

Will Call: Fans that purchased their tickets in advance can pick them up at the Hyatt Regency Will Call:

* Please note that will call pick-up on Saturday, January 18th, from 8:30 a.m. to noon is located in the main lobby of theBank of America building on 4th Street, directly across the street from the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch.

Autograph Tickets: Although online ticket sales have ended, remaining autograph tickets may be purchased at the Winter Warm-Up for a specific donation to Cardinals Care. Donation amounts can be found at cardinals.com/winterwarmup.

Cardinals Care
Cardinals Care was established to give fans a way of teaming up with Cardinals players and the Cardinals organization to help children in our community – both on and off the baseball field. Since it was established in 1997, Cardinals Care has invested nearly $20 million in helping children, including providing $11 million in grants to over 800 non-profit youth organizations, and building 21 youth ball fields in neighborhoods in both Missouri and Illinois. In 2013, Cardinals Care celebrated the 10th anniversary of the innovative Redbird Rookies program, a free baseball league for kids who otherwise might not have the opportunity to play. In addition to providing all the uniforms, gloves, bats, balls and other equipment needed for each team, Redbird Rookies also provides extensive off-field support in the areas of health, education, mentoring and the cultural arts for each of the nearly 4,500 kids who participate in the program each year. To learn more about all of Cardinals Care’s programs visit cardinals.com/community.

*The schedule – including all players, dates, & times – is subject to change.

That’s all for tonight! Look for me on the Winter Warm-Up Bonfyre – you’ll find me as Diane Kathriner Schultz there. Thanks for reading and see you next time!

You may remember that I talked about the Bonfyre app in a blog post here. We Cardinal bloggers use Bonfyre to talk about games, transactions, etc. in private conversations. The Cardinals are are now getting on the Bonfyre bandwagon to promote the Winter Warm-Up and the Cardinals Caravan this weekend, and if you download the Bonfyre app (available for iPhone and Android and a web app), you can join in the fun. Here’s all the details:

2014 CARDINALS CARE WINTER WARM-UP TO HOST FIRST BONFYRE

The St. Louis-based app joins a growing list of ways fans can access behind-the-scenes content on social media at Warm-Up

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (January 17, 2014) – The St. Louis Cardinals announced today that they have established a Bonfyre for the 2014 Cardinals Care Winter Warm-Up (#WWU) happening this weekend at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch.

Bonfyre, the very popular St. Louis based photo and video sharing mobile app, will complement the Cardinals’ complete social media coverage of the three-day long event on official club platforms like Twitter (@Cardinals), Facebook (Facebook.com/Cardinals) and Instagram (@Cardinals). The experienced-based social platform will narrowcast the event to fans and offer exclusive, behind-the-scenes content, scheduling updates, special prizes, and allow fans to share content while automatically creating a digital memory of the experience.

“We’re thrilled to be working with the St. Louis Cardinals to enhance the fan experience around such an amazing community event like the Winter Warm Up,” said Mark Sawyier, CEO of Bonfyre. “Bonfyre’s social narrowcasting platform will more directly connect the Cardinals to fans interested in the 2014 Winter Warm-Up experience. At Bonfyre, we believe experiences are the best reflection of the people and things we care about and this is a great example of that.

The Winter Warm-Up Bonfyre – open now – provides a direct line of communication to fans attending the event with the ability to stay up to date and share their personal experiences. Specific benefits include:

Access to exclusive content like behind-the-scenes photos and maybe a few surprise guest posts

Scheduling updates

Fans can share their experience through photos, and connect with other attendees all while creating a great memento of their time at Winter Warm-Up

Access to Cardinals Caravan content (#CardsCaravan)

Web version for fans who don’t have an iPhone or Android

An automatically and privately archived digital copy of the bonfyre, including photos and chats

All fans are invited to join the Winter Warm-up bonfire by downloading the mobile app and searching “Winter Warm-Up”, or by clicking this dedicated link. Representatives from Bonfyre will also be on site at the event to help fans join the free social platform.

Fans looking for exclusive Cardinals content can join the conversation on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Bonfyre by using hashtags #WWU, #CardsCaravan and #CardsCare. Throughout the weekend, fans that follow the team on social media will also have the chance to win a number of prizes.

The Cardinals have experienced dramatic growth in the team’s various social media platforms in recent years, most notably on Twitter (@cardinals) and Facebook (facebook.com/cardinals). In May of 2010, when the team used Twitter to launch Stand for Stan to celebrate Stan Musial, the team had just over 5,000 followers. Today, the Cardinals have more than 400,000 followers on Twitter, making @Cardinals one of the largest accounts in Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have more than 1.6 million fans on Facebook, as well as a growing presence on other social media platforms such as Instagram (@cardinals – 125,000+), Vine, Tumblr, Pinterest and Google Plus. The Cardinals’ various social media efforts, such as the Stand for Stan Campaign, Facebook Fridays with Fredbird, the Like Mike Facebook campaign, #FreesePlease, #VinetheVote & #VoteSTL All-Star balloting campaigns, and the #Nestflix Instagram original video series #TheFrontOffice have been designed to take advantage of communication mediums that are transforming how fans interact with the club. Fans can learn more about the club’s social media by visiting cardinals.com/connect.

There’ll be another blog post in a few minutes with the Winter Warm-Up schedule. I hope to see you on the Winter Warm-Uo Bonfyre!

Good news for those of us who long for spring training and who want to listen and/or watch more spring training games! The good news is that almost all of the Cards’ spring training games will be broadcast on the Cardinals Radio Network and Fox Sports Midwest (TV). There’s also some news about spring training packages that the Cardinals are offering. Here’s the scoop:

Exclusive Travel Packages from Cardinals Vacations Are Available for Fans Looking to Experience Spring Training First Hand

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (January 13, 2014) – The St. Louis Cardinals announced today that fans will be able to catch nearly all of the club’s 2014 spring training games on FOX Sports Midwest and the Cardinals Radio Network.

FOX Sports Midwest will televise an all-time-high 15 St. Louis Cardinals spring training games in 2014, one of the largest spring broadcast schedules in MLB. FOX Sports Midwest’s live spring training coverage has jumped from five games in 2012 to 10 in 2013 and 15 in 2014. The television home of the Cardinals kicks off its live game coverage Friday, February 28, when the Cardinals open Grapefruit League play vs. Miami at Roger Dean Stadium, the first of six games against the Marlins. The television schedule also features visits by the Red Sox, Mets, Twins, Tigers, Braves and Nationals. In addition, ESPN will broadcast the game at Boston on Monday, March 17. FOX Sports Midwest will replay each spring training telecast that night.

As in years past, veteran broadcasters Mike Shannon and John Rooney will broadcast 18 games on the team’s flagship station KMOX (AM 1120) and the Cardinals Radio Network, including the Cardinals’ exhibition game against the Memphis Redbirds at AutoZone Park in Memphis on Friday, March 28.

The first of 18 radio broadcasts will begin Friday, February 28, as the Cardinals face the Miami Marlins. Throughout spring training, every Saturday and Sunday broadcast will feature the Cardinals Pre-Game Show. The show will air 20 minutes prior to first pitch and feature Mike Shannon or John Rooney interviewing Cardinals players, coaches and other baseball personalities. The 125 Cardinals Radio Network affiliates will broadcast most Saturday and Sunday games, as well as select weekday games. Fans are encouraged to check their local listings for details.

The St. Louis Cardinals have some exclusive travel packages available through Cardinals Vacations that allow fans to experience spring training firsthand. Packages include hard-to-get game tickets, choice of hotel accommodations, car rental, exclusive Cardinals post-game dinner with manager Mike Matheny and select Cardinals players and team personnel, custom Cardinals merchandise and more. Fans can choose from a variety of travel packages atcardinals.com/springtravel or at 1-800-892-7687.

Are you or someone you know tying the knot soon? Looking for a unique location for your wedding ceremony and/or wedding reception? Or does being a Cardinals fan extend to the best day in your life (and I don’t mean when the Cards win the World Series)? Busch Stadium is more than just a great place to see a baseball game with the best team in baseball. You can see all the great amenities Busch Stadium has to offer at the 5th annual boutique bridal show at Busch Stadium on February 9. Read all about it below:

FIFTH ANNUAL BOUTIQUE BRIDAL SHOW AT BUSCH FEBRUARY 9th

Couples Learn How They Can Make Their Special Day Even More Memorable at One of the Most Unique Venues

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (January 14, 2014)— Couples who are looking to make the Cardinals a part of their special day or are simply looking for a unique venue will not want to miss the fifth annual Busch Stadium Boutique Bridal Show on Sunday, February 9, 2014.

The event, which takes place from 12:30 to 4:00 p.m. in the Redbird Club, will allow guests to tour several unique venues throughout the ballpark that will be set up and decorated for rehearsal dinners and weddings. Guests will have the opportunity to get their photo with the 2011 World Series trophy, enjoy live music from a variety of bands and DJs, and enjoy free samples of some of the ballpark’s world-class catering.

There will be several exclusive vendors on hand for the Bridal Show including florists, photographers, cake experts and more. Guests will get the opportunity to learn more about wedding ceremonies on the field, as well as wedding receptions and photos at the stadium.

From engagement photos to a wedding on home plate, the stadium offers a variety of options to make a special day even more unique. Each guest will be given a copy of the Spring/Summer St. Louis Bride Magazine and more great gifts to help them prepare for their wedding day. Tickets are $10.00 in advance and $14.00 at the door on the day of the event. Parking is free in lots A, B & C. Fans should enter the show at Gate 2.

To purchase tickets in advance or for additional information on the event contact Event Services at 314-345-9630 or visit cardinals.com/events.

Busch Stadium Special Events (#BuschSpecialEvents)

The St. Louis Cardinals special events team specializes in creating unique and memorable experiences. Busch Stadium is a one-of-kind magical place that has proven to be a very versatile venue for events large and small since it opened in 2006. An iconic, uniquely St. Louis venue, Busch Stadium is home to the St. Louis Cardinals – – one of the most storied franchises in baseball. In addition to two epic World Championship celebrations, Busch Stadium has hosted over a thousand memorable experiences ranging from small corporate gatherings and team building outings to record setting concerts and world class sporting events. Learn more at cardinals.com/events.

The weather is cold outside and 8-12″ of snow is expected in the St. Louis area starting tomorrow night into most of Sunday, but here’s some news to warm up your weekend – Winter Warm-Up autograph tickets go on sale on Monday! Here’s the scoop from the Cardinals’ front office in the press release below:

WINTER WARM-UP AUTOGRAPH TICKETS ON SALE MONDAY

Autograph donations to benefit kids in the Cardinals Community

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (January 3, 2014) – Cardinals Care, the charitable foundation of the St. Louis Cardinals, announced today that fans may begin purchasing autograph tickets for the 18th annual Winter Warm-Up on the team’s website, cardinals.com/winterwarmup, at 9 a.m. CT on Monday, January 6th.

Player autograph sessions are one of the most popular attractions of the Warm-Up. While some players’ autographs are free with the admission pass, others require an autograph ticket available through a specific additional donation. Every dollar donated for autograph tickets – as well as all proceeds from the Winter Warm-Up weekend – benefit Cardinals Care, the team’s community foundation that cares for kids.

The highly-anticipated annual event takes place Saturday, January 18 through Monday, January 20, 2014 (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day), at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch. Fans may continue to purchase admission passes for the three-day Winter Warm-Up online at cardinals.com/winterwarmup, in the official Cardinals Team Store at Busch Stadium and at Cardinals Clubhouse stores located around St. Louis. A Winter Warm-Up admission pass is required to enter the Warm-Up and obtain autographs.

Fans will have the opportunity to meet members of the 2013 National League Champion St. Louis Cardinals including Adam Wainwright, Matt Carpenter, Allen Craig, Matt Holliday, Manager Mike Matheny, NLCS MVP Michael Wacha and more. Hall of Famers Red Schoendienst, Whitey Herzog and Tony La Russa will be on hand for the weekend event as well as two of the newest Cardinals, outfielder Peter Bourjos and shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

“The Warm-Up is the perfect opportunity for fans to meet their favorite players and help kids in the St. Louis community,” said Michael Hall, Executive Director of Cardinals Care and Vice President of Community Relations. “We hope fans will join us in welcoming our new players and celebrating our 19th National League pennant.”

Fans are encouraged to visit cardinals.com/winterwarmup for the most up-to-date details about player autograph dates, times and, if required, additional donation amounts. All autograph tickets will be sold online through Wednesday, January 15th at 5 p.m. CT. Any remaining autograph tickets not sold online will be available at the Winter Warm-Up. For complete event details, schedule and frequently asked questions, visit cardinals.com/winterwarmup. The current autograph schedule follows below.

Cardinals Care was established to give fans a way of teaming up with Cardinals players and the Cardinals organization to help children in our community – both on and off the baseball field. Since it was established in 1997, Cardinals Care has invested $19 million in helping children, including providing $11 million in grants to over 800 non-profit youth organizations, and building 21 youth ball fields in neighborhoods in both Missouri and Illinois. In 2013, Cardinals Care celebrated the 10th anniversary of the innovative Redbird Rookies program, a free baseball league for kids who otherwise might not have the opportunity to play. In addition to providing all the uniforms, gloves, bats, balls and other equipment needed for each team, Redbird Rookies also provides extensive off-field support in the areas of health, education, mentoring and the cultural arts for each of the nearly 4,500 kids who participate in the program each year.

*Dates, times and players may change prior to Winter Warm-Up. Some players may be added after today.*

Player

Donation

Signing Date

Signing Time

Adams, Matt

$20

Sunday, January 19

10am-12pm

Bourjos, Peter

$20

Monday, January 20

9-11am

Carpenter, Matt

$40

Sunday, January 19

3-5pm

Clark, Jack

$5

Saturday, January 18

11am-1pm

Craig, Allen

$40

Sunday, January 19

3-5pm

Cruz, Tony

$5

Sunday, January 19

10am-12pm

Descalso, Daniel

$15

Saturday, January 18

10am-12pm

Ellis, Mark

$5

Sunday, January 19

9-11am

Freeman, Sam

$5

Sunday, January 19

1-3pm

Herzog, Whitey

$75

Monday, January 20

11am-12pm

Holliday, Matt

$75

Monday, January 20

10am-12pm

Jay, Jon

$20

Sunday, January 19

3-5pm

Jordan, Brian

$10

Monday, January 20

11am-1pm

Kelly, Joe

$25

Sunday, January 19

11am-1pm

Kozma, Pete

$5

Saturday, January 18

10am-12pm

La Russa, Tony

$75

Sunday, January 19

10am-12pm

Lynn, Lance

$20

Sunday, January 19

1-3pm

Lyons, Tyler

$5

Sunday, January 19

12-2pm

Mabry, John

$5

Monday, January 20

12-2pm

Maness, Seth

$10

Saturday, January 18

2-4pm

Matheny, Mike

$40

Monday, January 20

9-11am

Miller, Shelby

$25

Sunday, January 19

1-3pm

Molina, Yadier

$100

TBD

TBD

Motte, Jason

$30

Sunday, January 19

2-4pm

Peralta, Jhonny

$25

TBD

TBD

Robinson, Shane

$5

Sunday, January 19

11am-1pm

Rosenthal, Trevor

$35

Saturday, January 18

12-2pm

Schoendienst, Red

$75

Sunday, January 19

10-11am

Shannon, Mike

$10

Sunday, January 19

12-1pm

Siegrist, Kevin

$15

Saturday, January 18

3-5pm

Smith, Ozzie

-pre-autographed baseball

$75

Everyday

Cardinals Care Store

Taveras, Oscar

$20

Saturday, January 18

2-4pm

Wacha, Michael

$70

Monday, January 20

12-2pm

Wainwright, Adam

$80

Saturday, January 18

12-2pm

Wong, Kolten

$15

Sunday, January 19

2-4pm

The following players will be signing free autographs and will require a line ticket. More information will be available at the Winter Warm-Up.